Hansi Flick blocks Barcelona’s move for Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni over defensive line concerns

Barcelona’s summer transfer activity has reportedly hit an unexpected internal obstacle, with manager Hansi Flick understood to have instructed sporting director Deco to suspend negotiations for Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni.

The 27-year-old Italian international had been identified by Deco as the club’s primary defensive target for the upcoming window — earmarked to partner teenage centre-back Pau Cubarsí and fill the void left by the departed Iñigo Martínez. Inter Milan, according to reports, have placed a valuation of between €60 million and €80 million on Bastoni, who played a key role in helping the Nerazzurri claim a 2025/26 Serie A and Coppa Italia double.

Despite Bastoni’s standing as one of the most technically accomplished ball-playing defenders in European football, Flick is reportedly unconvinced that the signing aligns with his tactical requirements. The German head coach is said to acknowledge the Italian’s technical quality but has raised specific concerns about his lack of outright recovery speed — a quality Flick considers non-negotiable given Barcelona’s characteristically aggressive and high defensive line.

Flick’s system routinely positions Barcelona’s defensive unit high up the pitch, creating significant space in behind that demands centre-backs with the physical attributes to recover quickly against counter-attacks. Sources suggest the manager fears that pairing Bastoni with Cubarsí — a player whose strengths are primarily technical rather than physical — would leave the Blaugrana dangerously exposed to direct runners in transition.

Rather than committing a substantial portion of the club’s transfer budget to Bastoni, Flick has reportedly pushed for Barcelona to redirect their search toward a left-sided centre-back whose physical profile better complements Cubarsí. Specifically, the manager is said to be prioritising qualities such as physical dominance, aerial and ground duel-winning ability, and, above all, recovery pace.

Adding further complexity to Deco’s planning, the recent first-team debut of La Masia graduate Álvaro Cortés has reportedly provided Flick with a credible and cost-effective in-house option, potentially reducing the perceived urgency of an expensive external acquisition in the centre-back position.

The reported disagreement between Flick and Deco underscores the influence the Barcelona manager is exercising over the club’s recruitment strategy ahead of what is expected to be a significant summer rebuild. Barcelona’s ability to spend in the transfer market also remains contingent on their financial position under LaLiga’s financial fair play regulations, making target prioritisation a particularly consequential decision.

Bastoni, who has been a cornerstone of Inter Milan’s defence since establishing himself in the starting eleven under Antonio Conte, has consistently attracted interest from Europe’s leading clubs. Should Barcelona formally withdraw from the race, other top-tier sides are likely to monitor his availability closely.